Parisian Top14 clubs Racing 92 and Stade Français announced they will merge next season, but "questions surround" the logistics of the move, according to David Reyrat of LE FIGARO. The new club will have a "new name, new logo and new jersey." The clubs released a picture of a proposed crest but Racing 92 President Jacky Lorenzetti said, "The supporters, the partners and the players will have their say." Lorenzetti and Stade Français President Thomas Savare decided that the presidency of the new club "will rotate." For the next two years, Savare "will preside over the supervisory board and Lorenzetti will be the director, before reversing." It is clear that half of the clubs' players "will not be retained." Between the recent release of players and the ending of several player contracts, "about 20 have already been eliminated." Among the rest, there are some, "solicited by other clubs, that will request to be released from their contracts," and others that the new club "will not want to retain." They "will be paid for the remainder of their contracts." The current coaching staff of Racing 92, Laurent Tavers and Laurent Labit, "were named the future coaches of the new club," and will be in charge of deciding who makes the new squad. The new team will alternate between the stadiums Racing 92 and Stade Français currently use, before moving into the dome stadium that is currently being built for Racing. However, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) could "seriously complicate" the process for the new club. Only the FFR has to power to grant an "affiliation number" to a club, which allows a team to compete in a professional championship. If the federation does not grant a number, "the new entity will have to register" with a current one from Racing 92 or Stade Français -- meaning the "de facto disappearance" of the other club (LE FIGARO, 3/13).
STRIKE: L’ÉQUIPE reported after meeting on Tuesday, the Stade Français players "gave a notice of strike for an indefinite amount of time." No training will be organized and Saturday's match against Castres will "very likely" not happen. Stade captain Pascal Papé said, "We demand a cancellation of the merger" (L’ÉQUIPE, 3/14).
MORE REACTION: LE MONDE reported the plan to merge the two Parisian clubs "already sent a wave of negative reactions, notably from players." Stade Français player Paul Gabrillagues wrote on Facebook, "This is not a merger, it's a buyout of Stade Français by Racing ... the death of our club, the club of Paris. I will not participate in this masquerade." On the Racing side, it seems "the players were given instructions not to comment" (LE MONDE, 3/13). 20 MINUTES reported Stade Français player and French int'l Jonathan Danty spoke with reporters after the French national team's practice on Tuesday and "did not mince words." He said, "We were always told that we were the future of the club. ... And then we realize this was done behind our backs! It is very hard to swallow." Fellow int'l and Stade teammate Djibril Camara also spoke with the media. Camara, who came up through the Stade Français academy, said, "It's as if they announced the death of my mother. It's a huge knife in the back. I am disappointed and sad, for the club, for my teammates, for the people in the offices and for the supporters" (20 MINUTES, 3/14). 20 MINUTES also reported Top14 side Toulon President Mourad Boudjellal "was not happy" with the news. He called the move a "purchase disguised as a merger." Boudjellal said, "It's an exchange of money and it's Savare who will profit. ... We've entered the rugby of great capitalism, where humanity is passed by money." He added, "An empty stadium plus an empty stadium ... It may make a half-filled stadium" (20 MINUTES, 3/13).
